02/27/2011 Raleigh House Bill

Raleigh, N.C. — State senators tentatively approved a bill Thursday that gives a stronger legal basis for people to use deadly force if they feel their lives are threatened during a forcible break-in at their home, car or job.

Senate Bill 34, which attempts to expand widely what’s known as the “castle doctrine,” is considered to be a crime deterrent by supporters who say that legally armed citizens should have the right to protect themselves against unlawful entry.

Existing North Carolina law allows the use of deadly force to someone in a home, but the person might have to prove to police afterward he was faced with a reasonable fear of death or bodily injury.

The bill would increase the number of places where people using deadly force against an intruder would be immune from criminal or civil liability. They would also be presumed to have been justified in firing a weapon or attacking an intruder in self-defense. A prosecutor could still challenge that presumption in court.

Under the new measure, the presumption to use force would also include motorists during a carjacking and people at a place of business who believe they are being physically threatened by an intruder.

The bill must be voted on one more time by the full Senate. If it wins final approval, it would move onto the state House of Representatives for consideration.

Copyright 2011 by WRAL.com and the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Carolina Firearms Training was formed in March of 2009. As of September 2015 we have provided insruction to over 7000 students and counting. At Carolina Firearms Training our main purpose is the North Carolina Concealed Carry Course.